Louise Arters Biography

Started ballet and tap instruction at age eight under Elsie McDonald (sister of actress Jeanette McDonald's). By age twelve, the Arters twins were doing a stage presentation based upon the famous Scope-A-Tune routine of the European Kessler Sisters. Began print and store modeling in Philadelphia at age fifteen. An in-demand model by age sixteen, she appeared with Eagles' football sensation Tommy McDonald for a Penn Fruit campaign. Her mother lied about her age, which enabled her to go to New York to model in the garment district while still in high school. After making the rounds of the New York modeling circuit, she was signed by the prestigious Wilhemina Agency. She was sent to Paris to meet with Dorian Lee (Suzy Parker's agent sister), where she immediately landed the cover of "L'Official," a major coup. After doing pret-a-porter and print work in Paris for one year, she returned to New York City where she made a successful living as a model. Between international assignments she continued to hone her dance skills; singing lessons soon followed with David Collier. She added drama instruction with Robert Modica, coach of Ali MacGraw . Her agency sent the sisters to read for a scene requiring twins in _Great Gatsby, The (1972)_, which they got. Modeling continued non-stop until they received the audition call from George Roy Hill for the infamous Slap Shot (1977). The role of a hockey booster club Sparkle Twin is the one with which Louise is still closely associated. The girls were then featured with Jack Weston in O'Kay, a New York stage production that brought the girls to Toronto's Old Vic, followed by a six week run at prestigious Lincon Center. The show was originally scheduled to open on Broadway, but plans were scuttled due to the city's lengthy newspaper strike. It was shortly after this time that Louise's increasing health problems were finally diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis.